Music and Faith at Notre Dame Christmas Concert

Students from  kindergarten to sixth grade classes treated a packed crowd of family and friends to the Annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 14.

Each grade sang a variety of songs at this year’s concert, named "Calling All Angels to Bethlehem," with a scripture read at the end of each performance. The concert included traditional favorites such as The Little Drummer Boy and original songs such as My Heart Beats.

“The children are all excited as we were learning new songs and new dance moves and just having a joyful time really sending home the message of Christmas and what’s in our hearts,” said director and music teacher Anna Cannistraci. “We all get into the Christmas spirit tonight.”

The children were decked out in red and green as each grade performed on the scenic Christmas stage to the delight of the audience.

Cannistraci played the piano and wrote five original songs including Calling All Angels in which the third grade sang and called all the first grade “angels” to the stage.

The second grade sang Santa Claus is Coming to Town as the girls performed a soft shoe dance throughout the song and later cleared the stage for the boys to dance, which received a round of applause and cheers from the audience.

“This is such a great, fun night,” Principal Caryn Durkin said.

The crowd sang along with familiar Christmas tunes such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Joy to the World.

The concert finale featured the students from each grade performing Silent Night.

“Hearing the children singing Silent Night, I really don’t think it gets any better than that,” Durkin said.